Red Cross Swim Lesson Levels

American Red Cross Swim Lesson Levels

The American Red Cross Swim Lesson Program offers something for all ages and levels. The ages listed with each level is to provide guidance however each swimmer is different and we encourage all swimmers to develop their skills at their own pace and comfort. Some swimmers will require more training in basic skills while other swimmers are ready to learn more advance skills.

Parent and Child Aquatics

Aqua Tots – Age: 6 months – 3 years
Designed to give young children a head start on swimming, to get comfortable in the water and begin to work on basic skills while interacting with instructor and other children in a fun and safe environment. Parents and children learn together to increase a child’s comfort level in the water and build a foundation of basic skills, such as arm and leg movements and breath control. Lessons are fun-filled and help introduce water safety concepts, encouraging a healthy recreational habit that your entire family can enjoy.

Learn to Swim Levels

Level 1 – Introduction to Water Skills – Age: 3-4+
For the beginner who is comfortable in the water.
Swimmers learn basics of swimming: bobbing, going under water, supported front and back floating, supported rolling over from front to back and back to front, supported gliding , supported flutter kick, supported front crawl arms and jumping in.

Level 2 – Fundamental Aquatic Skills – Age: 4-5+
Swimmers should already be able to float on front and back and put head under water.
Swimmers will work on: independent front and back floating , independent rolling over from front to back and back to front, independent front and back glides, front crawl arms and kicks, back crawl arms and kicks, retrieving underwater objects, and jumping into water over their head.

Level 3 – Stroke Development – Age: 5-6+
Swimmers should already be comfortable swimming front stroke and swimming on their back.
Swimmers will work on: gliding, freestyle with side breathing, backstroke, breast stroke and dolphin kicks, retrieving objects in deeper water, treading water, jumping into deep water and compact dives.

Please note: Not all pools are deep enough to teach all of the diving segments of all levels – program modifications may be required to meet safety guidelines.

Adult Swim Levels

American Red Cross Adult Swim is intended for teens and adults who wish to improve their knowledge and skill for many reasons. It may be to overcome their fear of the water and to learn the basic skills and achieve a minimum level of water competency to improve their skill and technique either to increase their level of safety to improve their health and fitness or to perhaps compete in triathlons or to join a masters team.